| Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hyper- | excessive, above |
| hypo- | below, under |
| anti- | against |
| pre- | before |
| post- | after |
| sub- | under, below |
| inter- | between |
| intra- | within |
| bi- | two |
| poly- | many |
| Root | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cardi/o | heart |
| derm/a | skin |
| gastr/o | stomach |
| hepat/o | liver |
| nephr/o | kidney |
| neur/o | nerve |
| oste/o | bone |
| pulmon/o | lung |
| hem/o | blood |
| path/o | disease |
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -itis | inflammation |
| -ectomy | surgical removal |
| -ology | study of |
| -emia | blood condition |
| -osis | condition/disease |
| -algia | pain |
| -pathy | disease |
| -scopy | viewing |
| -plasty | surgical repair |
| -gram | record/image |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Abate | To decrease, reduce |
| Abstain | To refrain from |
| Acute | Severe, sudden onset |
| Adverse | Harmful, unfavorable |
| Ambiguous | Unclear, vague |
| Benign | Not harmful, mild |
| Bilateral | Both sides |
| Chronic | Long-lasting |
| Compensate | To make up for |
| Compliance | Following instructions |
| Concise | Brief, to the point |
| Concurrent | At the same time |
| Congenital | Present at birth |
| Constrain | To limit, restrict |
| Contingent | Dependent on |
| Contraindication | Reason NOT to use |
| Deficiency | Lack, shortage |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deteriorate | To worsen |
| Dilate | To widen, expand |
| Distal | Far from center |
| Elevate | To raise up |
| Etiology | Cause of disease |
| Exacerbate | To make worse |
| Explicit | Clear, direct |
| Fatigue | Tiredness, weariness |
| Febrile | Having fever |
| Flaccid | Limp, soft |
| Impaired | Damaged, weakened |
| Incidence | Rate of occurrence |
| Inflamed | Swollen, red, hot |
| Insidious | Gradual, subtle |
| Intact | Unbroken, whole |
| Latent | Hidden, dormant |
| Lethargic | Sluggish, drowsy |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Malaise | General discomfort |
| Malignant | Cancerous, harmful |
| Manifest | To show, display |
| Mitigate | To lessen severity |
| Morbidity | State of disease |
| Mortality | Death rate |
| Noxious | Harmful, toxic |
| Occlude | To block, close |
| Ominous | Threatening |
| Palliative | Relieves symptoms |
| Patent | Open, unblocked |
| Potent | Powerful, strong |
| Precaution | Safety measure |
| Prognosis | Disease outlook |
| Proximal | Near the center |
| Rationale | Reason, logic |
| Recur | To happen again |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Residual | Remaining |
| Restrict | To limit |
| Retain | To keep, hold back |
| Secrete | To produce/release |
| Sedentary | Inactive, sitting |
| Sepsis | Body infection |
| Sequela | Aftereffect |
| Somatic | Related to body |
| Sublingual | Under the tongue |
| Superficial | On the surface |
| Supplement | To add to |
| Susceptible | Easily affected |
| Symmetry | Equal on both sides |
| Symptom | Sign of illness |
| Therapeutic | Healing, curative |
| Toxic | Poisonous |
| Transient | Temporary |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Trauma | Injury, wound |
| Triage | Priority sorting |
| Unilateral | One side only |
| Verbal | Spoken, oral |
| Vital | Essential to life |
| Void | To empty, urinate |
| Volume | Amount of space |
| Wane | To decrease |
| Lumen | Inside of a tube |
| Prolapse | Falling/slipping |
| Distal | Farthest from |
| Palpate | To feel/examine |
| Anterior | Front of body |
| Posterior | Back of body |
| Superior | Above |
| Inferior | Below |
| Medial | Toward middle |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lateral | Away from middle |
| Prone | Face down |
| Supine | Face up |
| Abduct | Move away from |
| Adduct | Move toward |
| Flexion | Bending a joint |
| Extension | Straightening |
| Dorsal | Back side |
| Ventral | Front/belly side |
| Edema | Swelling (fluid) |
| Emesis | Vomiting |
| Dyspnea | Difficulty breathing |
| Cyanosis | Blue skin (low O₂) |
| Atrophy | Wasting/shrinking |
| Hypertrophy | Enlargement |
| Necrosis | Tissue death |
| Stenosis | Narrowing |